The latest adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s literary classic comes to the screen. Dorian Gray, played here by Ben Barnes, is the impossibly handsome yet naive socialite who is somewhat unaware of the power of his beauty until Colin Firth’s experienced gentleman Lord Henry Wotten opens his eyes to the possibilities.

Image via Wikipedia (Colin Firth at the IIFA awards in 2007 where he was an MD for Oxfam)

Ben Chaplin’s Basil Hallward is the man charged with capturing Dorian’s good looks in a portrait which will be the central piece of artistic work at the young man’s expansive London home. This is where things become more intriguing. It soon becomes apparent that the painting is much more than just a pictorial representations of our ‘hero’ and, when Dorian abandons his good morals in favour of a more decadent existence, it appears on the face of it (his face anyway) that he has found the key to unlocking the fountain of youth and agelessness. Dorian, operating as Lord Henry’s existential protégé, proceeds to take advantage of his own explosive sex appeal, leaving a trail of destruction and broken hearts in his wake. His actions bring to mind the words of another legendary writer (Michael Jackson): “People always told me, be careful what you do, don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts” (from Billie Jean). A morality tale which lacks real spark but is occasionally enjoyable. The acting is passable.

Image via Wikipedia (The Picture of Dorian Gray by Ivan Albright, 1943)

4/10